Some Bruins Can’t Beat the Heat

The heat wave gripping Southern California made its presence felt in Westwood on Monday. High temperatures combined with rare humidity knocked offensive linemen Shawn Stuart, Matt Phelan and Blake Worley from practice and prompted Coach Bob Toledo to take extra breaks and curtail both workouts.

Stuart, the senior center, said he lost 10 pounds during the afternoon practice, was dizzy and had cramps. The medical staff gave Stuart an IV and had him sit in a cold whirlpool.

“I couldn’t catch my breath and I was dizzy,� he said. “I’ve gone through a lot of these practices--I’ve been doing them for years--so I know what they’re all about. But I could definitely tell there was a problem this time.�

All three players--Phelan and Worley had similar symptoms--were kept out of the evening practice as a precaution, even though temperatures had dropped noticeably.

Toledo cut about 20 minutes from the first session and then another 10 from the second, working in extra breaks along the way.

The Bruins will open the season with a day game Sept. 12 against Texas at the Rose Bowl, where it could easily be much hotter than any Westwood afternoon, then will take off for the Humidity Festival, with consecutive afternoon games at Houston and Miami.

The Houston game doesn’t even offer the benefit of the Astrodome. It will be played at the Cougars’ campus stadium.

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Jon Dubravac is the latest freshman to make an unexpected impact. Once a probable redshirt, he has been making a recent push and could end up playing. Even more impressively, the Denver native has done it while learning two positions, split end and slotback.